Consider An Ambient Weather Weather Station

An Ambient Weather weather station is my review of the Ambient Weather WS-1002 Observer. This professional-level weather station is highly touted by many of the owners.

However, there are its detractors as well. I go through and give you a list of pros and cons for this Wi-Fi color home weather station.

I did find that, if you are keenly psyched by the weather this is Your Weather Equipment. You may have a hard time walking away from all of its options.

After a thorough look over, this is definitely a must-be-considered choice for a serious weather station for you.

Description

The Ambient Weather WS-1002 Observer is the updated version of the WS-1001 Observer. One main thing has been changed. It has to do with the power source for the remote sensor array. I will discuss this in the pros and cons lists.

As I look at other ambient weather station reviews this one Ambient Weather weather station fits well for other reasons.

These reasons should be brought out into the light. Two things that are really inspiring to the avid weather fan are the

1. the amount of data that is provided
2. the ability to store, assemble and put together reports of historical significance

These reports over time could become very interesting and valuable for studying your local weather.

Features Including Instrument Sensors

The observer is accurate, precise, and affordably priced; it transmits 915mhz from the outdoor sensor array and indoor temperature sensor
The display console sends and receives internet data using Wi-Fi connectivity

The observer transmits outdoor temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, UV, and solar radiation from the all-in-one sensor array. All in one present the following set of weather instruments to you, for your study.

• Wind direction vane
• Wind speed cups (an anemometer)
• Solar collector to run the sensors
• Battery compartment for batteries for nighttime operation
• Thermo-hygrometer with a solar radiation shield
• UV sensor
• Solar radiation sensor
• Rain collecting gauge (self-emptying)
• Wireless indoor thermo-hygrometer-barometer sensor
• Bubble level to use to help level out the installation of the remote sensor array.

The observer also transmits indoor temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure from the indoor temperature array
The dew point and rainfall rate and a graph provide detailed trends for barometer, temperature, and humidity from your outside sensors and your instrument’s location.

Display

The display console facing the Ambient Weather WS-1002 looks like this. The display features a screen that displays historical archive data in the upper left-hand corner in the form of a graph.

The graph shows the following information. The graph shows the barometer, the temperature, and/or the humidity too.

Also, other key sections of information are presented on the colored console screen.

The numerous sections, present themselves to you as I describe them next.

Clockwise, next, you will see shown the wind direction and wind speed, then also along the top of the screen is the home to a current wind gust speed reading and the current wind speed.

Further down the right side of the console screen, you will find the inside humidity, the outside humidity, as well as the current outside dewpoint would be listed.

Then the calendar event readings, such as day of the week, month and date, and current year are in the lower right-hand corner.

Then, along the bottom, in a clockwise fashion, you will find the rest of how the console screen looks when observed by you.

You will have the current rainfall amount that has happened. Then it will also be listed in a “rain rate of inches per hour”. The current 24-hour rainfall total is listed as well.

Across the bottom towards the left-hand corner, you will find the current barometric pressure in HG.

Below that you will have the daily sunrise time, the moon phase for the day, and then the sunset time of that day as well.

Types of Transmission

So here is a shortlist of the pieces of transmission that are completed daily by the Ambient WS-1002 Observer

• The weather station console connects via Wi-Fi to the router/internet
• Sensor Array transmits with RF (Radio Frequency)at 915 MHz, to the display console inside the house
• Wireless transmission from the remote sensor array to the color display console. Transmission is recommended up to 300 feet of unobstructed transmitting
• The thermo-hygrometer-transmitter transmits directly to the console. Never set it up outside. The other big thing, is you need to set it up inside at anywhere from 5 feet to 20 feet away from the console for best results.

Dimensions

• Home display console measures 7.75″ in length x 5.75″ in width x 0.75″ is the height
• The LCD screen (the liquid-crystal display)for the console is measured at 6.25″ in length x 3.5” wide
• Wireless indoor thermo-hygrometer-barometer sensor measures 2.5″ in height x 3.5″ in width x 1″ in depth
• Sensor with Array of Ambient Weather Instruments for outdoors measures 12″ in length x 6″ in width X 14″ in height

Help In the Mounting

When thinking of mounting the Ambient Weather weather station, you will need to know about the pole diameters.

What is the inner diameter (it’s 1-1/4″) and outer diameter (it’s 1-3/8″) of the end that is supposed to connect to a pole? With these dimensions you will be able to connect, to set up your ambient weather mounting.

Please remember that included in the Ambient Weather weather station package are two pieces that will help get the mounting set up for you.

A good idea for a perfect great weather station mount is using the Ambient Weather WeatherMount Weather Station Mount found on Amazon.com.

How Is It Powered

• Indoor remote sensor: 2 “AAA” batteries
• Outdoor sensor array: 3 “AA” Lithium or alkaline batteries.
• The display console which is the heart and soul base of operations is powered by using the supplied 5-volt DC power supply cord. This power cord is approximately 6.5 feet in length

Batteries are not included for any of the necessary powering.

The very important thing to note here. Many people when looking at this weather station assume that the solar panel on the remote sensor array is charging up rechargeable batteries. That is not the case at all. The unit must be powered by batteries.

The batteries it takes are “AA batteries. For outside use, I always recommend Lithium batteries. They last much longer for outside use than regular alkaline batteries do.

The solar panel (when working) is basically powering the sensor array, but when there is no solar energy (like at night time) then the batteries are then powering the sensors.

Ambient Weather Software

The Ambient Weather software provides skill areas, which an Ambient Weather personal weather station owner can use to their advantage.

I am talking about the ability to get real-time, and past weather information generated by the devices the owner of the Ambient Weather WS-1002 Observer has set up on their property.

You are also able to hook up with the following apps or helpmates.

• Wunderstation Ipad App
• The Google Assistant program
• Compatible with Alexa-“Alexa voice command system” using the Echo Dot

You can use the WunderStation iPad app certainly adds another dynamic but it is definitely an option.

However, You can set this up to work in conjunction with both the Google Assistant and Alexa using the Echo Dot Assistant from Amazon

So it works with Google Assistant too.

Link your account to get started: say “Hey Google, Ambient Weather” a weather report is needed.” It is also compatible with Alexa. Enable the skill and get started: say “Alexa, ask Ambient Weather for a weather report.”

This will provide you with your outdoor weather report, but you can ask for your indoor weather report as well by saying, “Alexa, ask Ambient Weather about the indoor conditions”.

Manufacturer Support

For full customer support for the Ambient Weather WS-1002

Ambient Weather may be contacted by either email or by telephone.

• Call them at 480-346-3380 Monday-Friday 8-3 pm EST MST
• Email them support@AmbientWeather.com

Pros

• The WS-1002 has been improved over the Ambient Ws-1001 and what it represented in the weather instrument power source for the remote sensor array. Now in the WS-1002, the solar panel powers the sensor pack when there is solar power being generated. At night or when the solar power panel is not generating enough power, the “AA” batteries take over the job of powering the sensors.
• You will have access to all data sent to Weather Underground. It may be uploaded in .csv files for storage on your home computer
• Supports both Fahrenheit and Celsius measurements. Also supports all of the imperial (things are measured in feet, inches, and pounds) and metric measurements
• NIST time synchronization you will have the correct time. Daylight Savings time updates are done automatically
• you will be publishing real-time data to Wunderground.com 24 hours a day. It’s “Free” to do this
• The rain gauge has a very large cup for rain gathering and direct flow in the actual rain gauge below. Because it is a small hole that allows the water through it, almost all any kind of debris cannot enter the rain gauge, thus the rain gauge will not get plugged up with debris.
• You have the ability to set up then IFTTT type of mobile app inter-connectivity. The If It’s This The Its That apps.

  This simply explains what and why you may be interested in IFTTT. The main IFTTT service is for automatic actions-things that you want to happen every time certain conditions are met without you needing to do anything

Cons For Purchasing the Ambient WS-1002 Observer

• There isn’t an alarm clock function. Only alert-type functions are all-weather instrument related
• It doesn’t track lightning activity
• Large hail storms produce large hailstones that will damage the anemometers probably beyond use because they are made from plastic. So in severe weather conditions, you may experience some equipment failures
• No current mobile phone app to tie into this live data. The system is only set up to directly communicate with Weather Underground.
• Unable to set up push notifications to communicate alerts being set off
• Not a good idea to use in a saltwater/ocean type environment, maybe not use at a beach house
• You are unable to add other sensors to it, for other locations to be monitored

Summing It All Up

Ambient Weather WS-1002-WIFI OBSERVER Solar Powered Wireless Weather Station

So if you have read all the way through the review, you will either see yourself owning this ambient weather observer weather station or you have decided against it, you now have an opinion.

Now, you may very well be supercharged up by the simple thought of getting your hands on one of these, or you fold up camp with absolutely no interest in pursuing this Ambient Weather weather station.

Either way, you will be making the correct decision for yourself. I look at my job, is to do your research for you and produce points that help you easily decide

This is a serious investment in both times to look after, assemble all the weather data, etc. You will be probably investing at least more than $250 in your purchase as well.

so take your time, read all of the information, and if you decide to purchase, this could be a very good investment in your personal weather education development.

I give this a rating of 4.1 on a 1-5 scale. The weather sensor array is well received by thousands of owners, and the display console and all of its features will bring you much closer to being a professional weather watcher.

Ambient Weather WS-1201-IP Observer Reviewed-A Close Look

After looking closer, the best thing about the Ambient Weather WP-1201-IP Observer is the things that it can connect to.

In the world we live in today, being connected is very important to many people for many reasons.

So what I’m saying is you are supplied with ongoing weather stats like current temps, current wind speeds, current barometer readings, current wind direction, and the UV and solar radiation as well.

All of those from outdoors, then you will also get your indoor temperature, your barometric pressure, and relative humidity as transmitted to you from your indoor array.

Please see below our look at the display console and what it presents to you. A very attractive colored screen that brings to you a screen filled with interesting weather readings, that will keep you updated often throughout your day. I believe the remote updates the readings every 14 seconds to the console, as it always is monitoring and talking to your console.

Types of Instruments

This weather remote sensor is transmitted back to the weather console inside your home without having to deal with any wires. The transmission is totally wireless and is transmitted at 915 MHz RF.

The instruments in the array remote sensor unit are the following, a weather anemometer, a temperature sensor, a barometer, and a rain gauge which is automatically self-emptying.

It also collects UV rays and solar strength through the solar charging panel on the sensor unit.

Display Console of the Observer

The remote sensor unit is updating your console with information from these sources. the provided instruments and sources of information are the wind vane, wind cups, the solar collector battery compartment, the LED transmitter indicator.

It also possesses a reset button Thermo-hygrometer with solar radiation shield UV sensor, Solar radiation sensor, Rain collector (self-emptying), and a bubble level used for installation purposes.

All of these are behind the scenes providing you with the following information on the screen in the comfort of your home.

What the Console Displays

It gives you a graph that provides detailed trends for barometer, temperature, and humidity

It gives you the minimum and maximum conditions with time and date stamps, historical archived data, the sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are also displayed to keep you informed daily on these happenings around you.

Furthermore, on the lower-right side of the screen, you will see the temperatures presented as outside current, with relative humidity levels, the temp both indoor and outdoors.

Then at the bottom of this area is the dew point spelled out for you in percentage currently with the temperature at 99%.

Software

The sensor array updates every 14 seconds. The maximum wind speed (gust) and average wind speed are continuously sampled within the 14 second time period,

It connects easily with all of the following

Ambient Weather NetworkThe AmbientWeather.net service connects to IFTTT, the platform that allows devices and services to work together seamlessly for you in your home.Here are a few things you can do with IFTTT

• Turn off your Rachio sprinklers when it rains, there is too much wind, or below freezing.
• Close your Hunter blinds when the sun is too intense.
• Close your garage door when it is too windy.
• Blink your hue lights when it starts raining.
• Connect to other web services, such as Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest

For more information on the IFTTT connection please go to IFTTT Ambient Weather.

The Ambient WS-1201-IP also will connect well with the following three services as well.

• Google Assistant
• Amazon Alexa
• Weather Underground Network

 

Manufacturer Support

You may call them Monday-Friday 8 am to 3 pm Arizona timefor Returns and Exchanges call 1-480-346-3388

Or email to support@AmbientWeather.com

Also, they have an extensive contact us (for whatever) page which may be found by going here, Ambient Customer Care.

Dimensions of the Ambient Weather WS-1201-IP Observer

Display Console: Frame Dimensions (LxWxH): 7.75 x 5.75 x 0.75″ LCD Dimensions (LxW): 6.25 x 3.5″ Outside Sensor Array: Is approximately (HxLxW): 14 x 12 x 6″

How Powered

• Base station: Input 5V DC; 110V-240 V 50-60 Hz wall charger included Power Consumption: 7.5 Watts
• Indoor Remote sensor: Uses 2 AAA batteries
• Outdoor sensor array: uses 3 AAA alkaline batteries

Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAA Batteries, 8 Count

Batteries that are needed are not included in the purchase. They will need to be purchased separately.

It is highly recommended to use Lithium batteries for the outside remote unit. Lithium batteries have a much longer shelf life than regular alkaline batteries. They will stay charged much longer in the very cold weather.

Specifications:

• • Indoor Temperature

Indoor Temperature Range: 32 to 140 °FIndoor Temperature Accuracy: ± 2 °FIndoor Temperature Resolution: 0.1 °F

• Outdoor Temperature

Outdoor Temperature Range: -40 to 140 °F (with lithium e2 Energizer batteries)Outdoor Temperature Accuracy: ± 2 °FOutdoor Temperature Resolution: 0.1 °F

• Indoor Humidity

Indoor Humidity Range: 10 to 99%Indoor Humidity Accuracy: ± 5%Indoor Humidity Resolution: 1 %

• Outdoor Humidity

Outdoor Humidity Range: 10 to 99%Outdoor Humidity Accuracy: ± 5%Outdoor Humidity Resolution: 1 %

• Barometric Pressure

Barometric Pressure Range: 8.85 to 32.50 inHgBarometric Pressure Accuracy: ± 0.08 inHg (within range of 27.13 to 32.50 inHg)Barometric Pressure Resolution: 0.01 inHg

• Solar Radiation

Solar Radiation (Light) Range: 0 to 400,000 LuxSolar Radiation Accuracy: ± 15%Solar Radiation Resolution: 1 Lux

• UV

UV Range: 0 to 15UV Accuracy: ± 1UV Resolution: 1

• Rain

Rain Range: 0 to 394 inRain Accuracy: ± 10%Rain Resolution: 0.01 in

• Wind Direction

Wind Direction Range: 0 – 360ºWind Direction Accuracy: ± 1ºWind Direction Resolution: 1º

• Wind Speed

Wind Speed Range: 0 to 100 mph (operational)Wind Speed Accuracy: ± 2.2 mph or 10% (whichever is greater)Wind Speed Resolution: 0.1 mphWind Speed Calculation: Average wind speed in 16 second update periodWind Gust Calculation: Peak wind speed in 16 second update period

Pros for the Ambient Weather WS-1201-IP Observer

Has an automatic Daylight Savings Time setting. It can be either on or off. For the US only Bubble level included for accurate mounting Can be viewed from different angles The colored screen which many people find as a big plus Is easy to set up Consistent accurate readings (please see specifications section) Connects to 2 different weather communications situations. Weather Underground and Ambientweather.com Can be used with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Can be used with ITFFF App

Cons

It has a very weak design for hanging it up. It uses two very small screws which aren’t large to hold the console. It will work better as a desktop or shelf sitting situation It doesn’t have a battery backup on the console, so you lose some settings when the power goes. A word of warning, some customers report a very hard time connecting with on the telephone, they had to use voicemail a lot. Not satisfied with that. Best customer service comes from email. A bit leery of that. Be aware of this situation has occurred to some people.

Consumer Ratings

Often when I am looking to buy something, I will read a few reviews from people who have purchased the product already. Sometimes I am surprised by what I find.

I often have to remind myself of my reason for considering this product. Is it important to have every review match well with a 4 or 5-star rating? Maybe? or Maybe not?

I find that the lower-priced items will receive many more reviews because many more of them are sold and thus many more people are willing to share their experiences.

With this Ambient product, I have found that it has a reasonable amount of reviews for how much it will cost you. Then I find, the price does compare favorably with other personal weather stations which provide the same range of services and instrumentation for the customer.

I believe as long as we are comparing other brands with the Ambient WS-1201-IP, I will take the Ambient based on the strength of all of the positive things it is giving me.

All of these features are tremendous and the icing on the cake is the software abilities that come along with it. It is a winner.

I rate this Ambient Weather WS-1201-IP Observer unit at a personal 4.2 stars. I believe it rates out well because of the large things it can do for me.

Then as a very psyched-up weather fan towards this excellent weather station, I am well pleased.